n8 " MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE ! " 



and she did not win, but she was second to Pero Gomez 

 for the Middle Park Plate, beaten half-a-length, with 

 Pretender, three lengths away, third. In her next race 

 she was second for the Troy Stakes to Belladrum, beaten 

 three-quarters of a length. Thus she was right in the 

 top class, as also was Ethus. But I was not a race-goer 

 that year except in holiday time, and the most momentous 

 event which I can recall from personal knowledge was the 

 sale of the Fairfield stud on Saturday, i2th September. 

 Mr Arrowsmith and I attended that sale, and it was a 

 really great one, for Jackson (" Jock of Oran ") had 

 spared no expense in getting together a stud worthy of 

 Blair Athol. He himself was in a rapid consumption, 

 and that was the cause of the sale, but he was at the ring- 

 side in a carriage, nevertheless, and witnessed the dispersal 

 without any outward sign of regret. Jackson was not 

 persona grata to Mr George Hodgman and some others, 

 but be that as it may, he was a pathetic figure when I 

 saw him at the sale, with the beauties of his stud passing 

 away one by one, and the shadow of death clouding over 

 himself. 



There were foreign commissioners not a few present : 

 Count Szapary, buying for Hungary, Count Renard for 

 Germany, and Colonel de Butz, who, I think, represented 

 Austria. 



There was also Mr Chirnside, who took a good many 

 lots for Australia, but none of these was any match for 

 Mr William Blenkiron, who, in a carriage on the far side 

 of the ring, bought whatever he wanted and was not to 

 be denied. I write only of what I remember, and specially 

 I can recall the fine Touchstone mare, Terrific, covered by 

 Blair Athol, who made 600 guineas, and her filly foal by 

 Blair Athol made 300 guineas. Mr Blenkiron bought 

 them both, and the foal was Bicycle. The unborn foal 

 was Struan. The very next lot was Tunstall Maid, by 

 Touchstone, covered by Blair Athol, and for her Mr 

 Blenkiron gave 1000 guineas. Her foal in the coming 

 time proved to be that good horse, Jock of Oran. Another 



